Developing an art-historically relevant and innovative question based on a key object is a complex matter. Each focused examination not only opens up specialist knowledge; at the same time, it provides a deep insight into a living piece of art history. With this in mind, the present volume brings together over 40 contributions by international authors who subject objects from the Frankfurt collections of the Städel Museum and the Liebieghaus collection of sculptures to focused analysis using various methodological approaches. Individual questions are developed and trenchant art history(s) told on the basis of works from the Middle Ages to the present day. These objects are showcased in order to reveal their many facets, somewhat like a kaleidoscope. Jochen Sander, who is closely associated with both collections, has advanced object-centred research in numerous publications and broken new methodological ground. This book is dedicated to him. Artists: Max Beckmann, Sebald Beham, Gerrit Berckheyde, Mary Ellen Best, Jan de Bisschop, Arnold Böcklin, Gustave Courbet, Carlo Crivelli, Gerard David, Albrecht Dürer, Adam Elsheimer, Conrad Faber von Kreuznach, Georg Flegel, Hugo van der Goes, Pieter Janssens Elinga, Jan Kupezky, Quentin Massys, Alexander McQueen, Michiel van Mierevelt, Johann Ludwig Ernst Morgenstern, Giovanni Battista Moroni, Hans Multscher, Walter Pichler, Rembrandt van Rijn, Peter Roehr, Peter Paul Rubens, Roelant Savery, Daniel Soreau, Johann Heinrich Tischbein d. Ä., Werner Tübke, Rogier van der Weyden Highlights from the collection of the Städel Museum and the Liebieghaus collection of sculpture from the Middle Ages to the present day